When Martin Rhees took over as director of the Hoover High School marching band five years ago, he learned the group's drums had been purchased several years before, but they arrived without cases to protect them. Ten years of traveling to football games has taken a toll on the drums, which often were transported in the lower compartment of buses to away games. “They took a beating,” Rhees said. On Thursday, after the marching band practiced for three hours on the school's field, Rhees led band members to the school's auditorium to unveil what was behind the closed stage curtain - a new set of drums.

Gary Moskowitz Hoover High School is getting ready to celebrate its 75th anniversary in a big way. To prepare for the 2004 springtime event, the school is forming an alumni association and is in the process of selecting a president, Hoover co-principal Kevin Welsh said. The school has asked at least one individual to assume the role of president but could not yet identify him or her, Welsh said. The alumni association will be heavily involved with planning and preparing for the 75th anniversary celebration.

Minutes before more than 500 Hoover High School graduates walked onto the school’s athletic field, Principal Kevin Welsh found time for one last lesson to the class of 2008. “This is a great moment for you and your family,” he said. “Just remember to turn off your cell phones.” The reminder came amid a drone of text messages received and the din of excitement felt by the 528 seniors. At 6 p.m., Welsh led his seniors through the halls of Hoover toward Ferguson Field as the school orchestra played “Pomp and Circumstance” in front of a rancorous group of family and friends, some with noisemakers and signs.

GLENDALE — He’s retiring in June after almost 40 years working in Glendale Unified School District, but don’t call Hoover High School Principal Kevin Welsh a lame duck. “I am only as lame of a duck as I wish to be,” he said. “There’s a tremendous amount of work to do.” The principal, known for green mustaches on St. Patrick’s Day and towering sombreros on Cinco de Mayo, is as enthusiastic as ever. Some students still call him “Poppa Welsh.

Glendale resident Vrej Hovsepian compares people to spokes of a wheel. “Each individual is a spoke of a community,” Hovsepian said. “If we don’t do the right job, then the wheel won’t spin the right way.” Hovsepian, a general contractor, lives by the analogy and does his part to contribute to the good of the community. For at least four years, he’s been on the board of directors of the Glendale Sunrise Rotary Club. The service club raises money to help support children’s causes, and Hovsepian is chairman of the club’s youth services division.

GLENDALE — Hoover High School's athletic staff and administration are aiming to name their athletic facilities after former Athletic Director Dorance "Dee" H. Kohlmeier. The Glendale Unified School District Board of Education will discuss the proposal at its meeting today. Kohlmeier, who died on Aug. 12 at age 86, was well respected by students and colleagues during his 37 years at Hoover, where he was a teacher and a coach, family members said. "I'm obviously honored," son Kris Kohlmeier said.

David Silva Tired of reading about violence and hate in your city? Consider joining an anticipated 3,000 people participating in the Peace Walk today at Hoover High School. Organized by Hoover alumni and supported by We Care for Youth, the event seeks to increase awareness of the problems of racial tensions and violence in the community. Participants will meet at 5:30 p.m. at the Hoover High School football field, then proceed to walk around the Hoover, Toll Middle and Keppel Elementary cluster of schools.

Civilian Cory E. Churchwell, a 1996 graduate of Hoover High School, recently enlisted in the U.S. Navy under the Delayed Entry Program at Navy Recruiting District in New Orleans. Churchwell will report for active duty to undergo basic training at the Navy's Recruit Training Center in Great Lakes, Ill. Navy Seaman Apprentice Christopher M. Colley, a 1995 graduate of Hoover High School, completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Ill. Navy Seaman Recruit Claudia Romerocasiano, daughter of Herminia Romero of Glendale, recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Ill.

Karen S. Kim NORTHWEST GLENDALE -- Jonathan Rosales, a senior at Hoover High School, attributes the improvement by Latino students on this year's Stanford 9 test scores to more than just student effort. "The reason that Latino students have improved so much on the SAT 9 is because of the sudden outpouring of support coming from parents, teachers and administrators," he said during a speech Monday night at Hoover High School. Rosales' speech was part of a celebration at Hoover High School attended by more than 150 community members, proud parents, teachers, city officials and students.

With the 2013-14 school year starting to wind down, it's a good time to check your school calendars for Teacher Appreciation Week. This is your chance to thank all of the wonderful people who give so much of themselves; time, talent and treasure to make a difference in the lives of our children. A nice note, a homemade card, a coffee-shop gift card or a simple kind word will all be graciously accepted. Please just don't forget to recognize your teachers and let them know just how much they are appreciated.

Hoover High School, Toll Middle School and Keppel Elementary will host their annual block party celebrating the arts from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 5. There will be great food, fun activities for the kids, amazing art and great music including performances by the Hoover, Toll and Keppel drill teams, the Keppel Show Choir, the Hoover Jazz Band, the Hoover Marching Band and the Toll Choir. Incoming Toll and Hoover families are strongly encouraged to come and join in the fun. Hoover High School An open house will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday.

As Glendale school officials continue to review a plan to offer the district's popular dual-language immersion classes through the 12th grade , they announced this week which high schools would offer the foreign-language courses. At the elementary level, the dual-immersion program has students spend at least half the instructional day speaking and learning in a language other than English. At the high-school level, students would continue studying their chosen language with an intensive class every day. According to the proposal, Hoover High School would offer German, French, Italian and Armenian classes and would offer a Spanish class for students currently enrolled at Franklin and Edison elementary schools.

Three people who achieved great success after graduating from local public schools will be honored by the Glendale Educational Foundation at the “Dancing with Diamonds Gala” on Friday at the Glendale Hilton. Paul Robert Ignatius was born in Glendale and graduated from Hoover High School in 1938. He is a retired Secretary of the U.S. Navy and served from 1967 to 1969. He was also president of the Washington Post for two years and president of the Air Transport Assn. for 15 years.

Richard Lee (“Dick”) Wallenius, 89, departed Glendale Memorial Hospital to be with the Lord January 4th 2014. Born in Glendale September 21, 1924, he was the son of Arthur William (Wally) Wallenius and Hilda Horstman Wallenius. He graduated from Hoover High School in 1942 and went on to earn a CPA degree. He was an accountant for the State of California for many years. Reflecting his love of God and music, he was organist and pianist for the First Brethren Church of Glendale for much of his adult life.

A girl, who former Hoover High School instructor Delvon Jackson is accused of sexually assaulting earlier this year, appeared in a Pasadena courtroom Wednesday to testify against him. Following a day-long preliminary hearing, Jackson was held to answer on four felony counts relating to the alleged assaults. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Janice Claire Croft also denied a request to lower Jackson's $400,000 bail. During her testimony, the 14-year-old freshman, referred to in the case as Jane Doe, said she initially felt safe around Jackson as a student in his Public Safety Academy class.

Hoover High drama students are preparing this week for their annual improvisation marathon in which dozens of students will spend 24 hours performing onstage beginning at 6 p.m. Friday. Fourteen-year-old Hoover freshman Vivica Rush said some students will perform for a while and then sneak away for an hour or two to squeeze in some sleep before returning to the school to perform again. Regardless, she said, at all times during the 24-hour session, there will be students onstage keeping up the momentum.

Three Latino students who sued the Glendale Police Department alleging racial profiling have settled for $2,500, according to court documents released this week. Negotiations continue with the Glendale Unified School District, which is a co-defendant in the case, according to court records. Jose Muro, Andres Muro and Francisco Martinez are plaintiffs in the lawsuit, which was filed by the ACLU of Southern California in October 2011, claiming they were detained and searched during lunch at Hoover High School on Sept.

A public safety instructor pleaded not guilty Monday to formal accusations that he sexually assaulted a 14-year-old Hoover High School student. More than a dozen family members and students appeared in a Glendale courtroom to support Delvon Jackson, 38, of Carson as he faced a total of four felony counts stemming from the alleged conduct. They stood up during Jackson's arraignment to show their support after his attorney, Winston McKesson, asked them to do so. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Frederick Rotenberg reduced Jackson's bail from $1 million to $400,000 after reviewing the amount originally set by a bail hearing officer last week.

A public safety instructor pleaded not guilty Monday to multiple charges allegedly that he sexually assaulted a 14-year-old Hoover High School student. More than a dozen family members and students appeared in a Glendale courtroom to support Delvon Jackson, 38, of Carson as he faced three felony counts of lewd acts upon a child and one count of sexual penetration with a foreign object. They stood up during Jackson's arraignment to show their support after his attorney Winston McKesson asked them to do so. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Frederick Rotenberg reduced Jackson's bail from $1 million to $400,000 after reviewing the amount originally set by a bail hearing officer.